Tuesday, March 31, 2009

The National Weather Service Office in Raleigh has confirmed tornado touchdowns in Cumberland and Sampson Counties last Friday afternoon and evening. The strongest was an EF-1 tornado that touched down near Hope Mills. The National Weather Service's storm survey is posted below. All images posted here are courtesy of the National Weather Service Office in Raleigh.

…National Weather Service Tornado Survey in Cumberland County…

Time/Date: 513 PM - 520 PM EDT Friday March 27, 2009

Tornado:EF-1

Peak Wind: 88 mph

Path Length: 5.0 miles (from the Robeson County line northeast to near the Fayetteville Regional Airport)

Injuries: None

Fatalities: None

The National Weather Service, in conjunction with Cumberland County Emergency Management, determined that an EF-1 tornado touched down just north of the Robeson County line just southeast of Hope Mills in the Roslin community.. The tornado damage track was about 50 yards wide and stretched northeast for approximately 5 miles.

The EF-1 tornado initially touched down around 513 PM just north of the Robeson County line on Roslin Farm Road where a brick home lost more than eighty percent of its roof structure. A resident who was home at the time took shelter in the bathroom just moments before the tornado struck. Interestingly enough this was the third home to have been destroyed by a tornado at this same location since 1968 all owned by the same resident. Several sheds and outbuilding in the area were also destroyed and a neighbors house suffered minor structural damage to the garage. The tornado then tracked northeast, over bare fields before reaching Braxton Road. At Braxton Road the tornado continued with EF-1 intensity winds causing significant damage to a home which experienced around twenty percent roof loss. The house was a recently constructed well built two story home. The upstairs structure was seriously damaged and the house was condemned. Numerous sheds and fences were blown over in the area. One vehicle next door was moved nearly 50 feet from one side of the road to another. Just downwind from this home a garage sustained significant damage. Several residents in the garage were informed of the Tornado Warning when a friend called them on a cell phone all before the tornado hit. They then turned on television just moments before the tornado struck. Everyone in the garage took shelter under a billiards table. Two walls of the garage were blown out. In the same area a doublewide mobile home was blown about 5 feet off its foundation and lost nearly one hundred percent of its roof structure.

The tornado continued northeast crossing Chicken Foot Road and Corporation Drive along which several trees were snapped. The tornado crossed Interstate 95 where numerous trees were blown down and snapped near Tim Starling Road. It was just north of this intersection where a tractor trailer was overturned by the high winds. Just west of Interstate 95 near the intersection of Tim Starling Road and Research Drive a large industrial building suffered significant roof damage. The wind of the tornado caused the roof the buckle enough for the Fire Marshall to order an evacuation of the building after the storm. Rocks on the roof of the building were blown into the parking lot shattering the windows of numerous vehicles. A large generator weighing a coupe thousand pounds was blown off a tractor trailer spilling around 40 gallons of diesel fuel. A. unfinished house under construction on Tim Starling Drive was also significantly damaged. A storage warehouse in the same area sustained minor damage when one of the bay doors blew in.

The tornado continued tracking northeast along Research Road while weakening to EF-0 as it approached Claude Lee Road. Numerous trees were blown down and sheds destroyed along Catherine Drive and Arlie Drive. Several homes in the area lost shingles and suffered minor damage to trim and siding. The tornado then lifted off the ground just as it approached the Fayetteville Regional Airport.

Special thanks are extended to Cumberland County Emergency Services for assistance during this survey and for providing access to the damaged areas.

An active weather pattern across the southeastern US will keep shower and thunderstorms chances in our forecast every couple to few days over the next week. We take a look at these rain chances including the threat for strong storms later in the week. Check out this morning's video blog posted below for the details.

TORNADO:EF-1PEAK WIND: 88 MPHPATH LENGTH: 5.0 MILES (FROM THE ROBESON COUNTY LINE NORTHEAST TO NEAR THE FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT)

INJURIES: NONEFATALITIES: NONETHE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH CUMBERLAND COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, DETERMINED THAT AN EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST NORTH OF THE ROBESON COUNTY LINE JUST SOUTHEAST OF HOPE MILLS IN THE ROSLIN COMMUNITY.. THE TORNADO DAMAGE TRACK WAS ABOUT 50 YARDS WIDE AND STRETCHED NORTHEAST FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES.

THE EF-1 TORNADO INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN AROUND 513 PM JUST NORTH OF THE ROBESON COUNTY LINE ON ROSLIN FARM ROAD WHERE A BRICK HOME LOST MORE THAN EIGHTY PERCENT OF ITS ROOF STRUCTURE. A RESIDENT WHO WAS HOME AT THE TIME TOOK SHELTER IN THE BATHROOM JUST MOMENTS BEFORE THE TORNADO STRUCK. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH THIS WAS THE THIRD HOME TO HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY A TORNADO AT THIS SAME LOCATION SINCE 1968 ALL OWNED BY THE SAME RESIDENT. SEVERAL SHEDS AND OUTBUILDINGS IN THE AREA WERE ALSO DESTROYED AND A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE SUFFERED MINOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE. THE TORNADO THEN TRACKED NORTHEAST, OVER BARE FIELDS BEFORE REACHING BRAXTON ROAD.

AT BRAXTON ROAD THE TORNADO CONTINUED WITH EF-1 INTENSITY WINDS CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO A HOME WHICH EXPERIENCED AROUND TWENTY PERCENT ROOF LOSS. THE HOUSE WAS A RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED WELL BUILT TWO STORY HOME. THE UPSTAIRS STRUCTURE WAS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED AND THE HOUSE WAS CONDEMNED. NUMEROUS SHEDS AND FENCES WERE BLOWN OVER IN THE AREA. ONE VEHICLE NEXT DOOR WAS MOVED NEARLY 50 FEET FROM ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO ANOTHER.

JUST DOWNWIND FROM THIS HOME A GARAGE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. SEVERAL RESIDENTS IN THE GARAGE WERE INFORMED OF THE TORNADO WARNING WHEN A FRIEND CALLED THEM ON A CELL PHONE BEFORE THE TORNADO HIT. THEY THEN TURNED ON TELEVISION JUST MOMENTS BEFORE THE TORNADO STRUCK. EVERYONE IN THE GARAGE TOOK SHELTER UNDER A BILLIARDS TABLE. TWO WALLS OF THE GARAGE WERE BLOWN OUT.

IN THE SAME AREA A DOUBLEWIDE MOBILE HOME WAS BLOWN ABOUT 5 FEET OFF ITS FOUNDATION AND LOST NEARLY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF ITS ROOF STRUCTURE.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEAST CROSSING CHICKEN FOOT ROAD AND CORPORATION DRIVE ALONG WHICH SEVERAL TREES WERE SNAPPED. THE TORNADO CROSSED INTERSTATE 95 WHERE NUMEROUS TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN AND SNAPPED NEAR TIM STARLING ROAD. IT WAS JUST NORTH OF THIS INTERSECTION WHERE A TRACTOR TRAILER WAS OVERTURNED BY THE HIGH WINDS. JUST WEST OF INTERSTATE 95 NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF TIM STARLING ROAD AND RESEARCH DRIVE A LARGE INDUSTRIAL BUILDING SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT ROOF DAMAGE.

THE TORNADO CAUSED THE ROOF TO BUCKLE ENOUGH FOR THE FIRE MARSHALL TO ORDER AN EVACUATION OF THE BUILDING AFTER THE STORM. ROCKS ON THE ROOF OF THE BUILDING WERE BLOWN INTO THE PARKING LOT SHATTERING THE WINDOWS OF NUMEROUS VEHICLES. A LARGE GENERATOR WEIGHING A COUPE THOUSAND POUNDS WAS BLOWN OFF A TRACTOR TRAILER SPILLING AROUND 40 GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL.

AN UNFINISHED HOUSE UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON TIM STARLING DRIVE WAS ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED. A STORAGE WAREHOUSE IN THE SAME AREA SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE WHEN ONE OF THE BAY DOORS BLEW IN. THE TORNADO CONTINUED TRACKING NORTHEAST ALONG RESEARCH ROAD WHILE WEAKENING TO EF-0 AS IT APPROACHED CLAUDE LEE ROAD.

NUMEROUS TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN AND SHEDS DESTROYED ALONG CATHERINE DRIVE AND ARLIE DRIVE. SEVERAL HOMES IN THE AREA LOST SHINGLES AND SUFFERED MINOR DAMAGE TO TRIM AND SIDING. THE TORNADO THEN LIFTED OFF THE GROUND JUST AS IT APPROACHED THE FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT.SPECIAL THANKS ARE EXTENDED TO CUMBERLAND COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR ASSISTANCE DURING THIS SURVEY AND FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE DAMAGED AREAS.$$JAO/TC

Here's an update on this weekend's hazardous weather outlook from the National Weather Service Office in Raleigh --

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

A WARM FRONT IS EXPECTED TO LIFT NORTH THROUGH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AR EEXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE WARM FRONT. DUE TO STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS ALOFT... ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME SEVERE... WITH A PRIMARY THREAT OF DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE... PARTICULARLY WITH ANY STORMS NEAR THE WARM FRONT.

A MORE ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER THREAT IS EXPECTED LATER TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING IN ASSOCIATION WITH A COLD FRONT APPROACHING THE AREA FROM THE WEST. A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG THE COLD FRONT TONIGHT AND RAPIDLY MOVEEAST ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS SUNDAY. THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT WITH ANY STORMS THAT MAY DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Saturday will mark 25 years since the deadliest tornado outbreak on record in the Carolinas...

Twenty-two tornadoes were reported that day. 57 people were killed in the Carolinas and some estimates show over 1000 were injured.

The tornadoes developed the afternoon of March 28, 1984 in South Carolina devastating areas around Newberry and Winnsboro. Other tornadoes in the Palmetto State eventually tracked into North Carolina. In the town of Red Springs located in Robeson County, every building was reported to have some type of damage.

As we remember that tornado outbreak 25 years ago, we must prepare for the threat for severe weather this March 28. While we do not anticipate anything like 1984 at this time, severe weather including isolated tornadoes, damaging straight line winds, and hail will be a threat. Saturday's severe weather threat across the state will begin in the afternoon and continue through the night perhaps into early Sunday morning.

While storms are expected Saturday afternoon, another round of storms could move through much of the state late Saturday night into early Sunday morning when most folks will be sleeping. Unfortunately, North Carolinas ranks as the number state in killer nighttime tornadoes. If severe weather hits while you are sleeping this weekend, do you have a way to be alerted? NOAA Weather Radios provide instant alarms to severe weather warnings and are programmable to the type of watches or warnings and the counties you want to be alerted to. Just like every home should have a smoke detector, every home in North Carolina should have a NOAA Weather Radio. They can be purchased from most electronic stores for under $50. Be sure to purchase one with S.A.M.E. technology, this will allow you to program your radio for the alerts and counties you would like to know about.

Stay tuned to News 14 Carolina and news14.com through the weekend. The Weather on the Ones Forecast Center will be staffed around the clock. We'll have updates every 10 minutes with continuous updates if necessary.

Here's this morning's hazardous weather outlook for Saturday through Sunday issued by the National Weather Service Office in Raleigh --

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY AFTERNOON INTO SUNDAY MORNING ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...

A STRONG WARM FRONT IS EXPECTED TO LIFT NORTH THROUGH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA SATURDAY AFTERNOON. DEPENDING ON HOW UNSTABLE THE ATMOSPHERE IS... ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE WARM FRONT. DUE TO STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS ALOFT...ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME SEVERE...WITH A PRIMARY THREAT OF DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT WITH ANY STORMS NEAR THE WARM FRONT. THE PRIMARY THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE TRIANGLE AND HIGHWAY 64 CORRIDOR.

A MORE ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER THREAT ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA IS EXPECTED LATE SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING IN ASSOCIATION WITH A STRONG COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE. A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG THE COLD FRONT SATURDAY NIGHT AND RAPIDLY MOVE EAST ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS SUNDAY. THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT WITH ANY STORMS THAT MAY DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Light rain showers began across central North Carolina late yesterday, and now rain will continue off and on through the rest of the week and into the weekend.

The latest rainfall outlook through the weekend posted above shows much of our area could still see a couple of inches of rain. The western Carolinas could see over three inches, while parts of Alabama and Georgia could see over five inches!

Severe weather has been ongoing since last night across the Gulf coast states. There are reports this morning for early morning tornadoes in Mississippi and some storm damage in Alabama. The severe weather threat will continue along the Gulf coast this afternoon. Here in North Carolina, we'll just see occasional showers today and tomorrow with the possibility for just some isolated thunder.

Our chances for strong to severe thunderstorms will come late Saturday afternoon, Saturday night, and early Sunday when a line of storms will move across the Carolinas. The Storm Prediction Center has much of the southeast including all of the Carolinas outlined for a slight risk of severe weather Saturday.

Damaging straight line winds, hail, and tornadoes will be possible in the slight risk area. Details to the severe weather threat and timing still need to be ironed out. Stay tuned to News 14 Carolina for the latest in our Weather on the Ones updates.

Late March is often an active time for severe weather in the southeast. It is interesting to note that this Saturday will mark the 25th anniversary of one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in the Carolinas. More on the 1984 Carolinas Outbreak tomorrow here on the blog...

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Rain looks to be a good bet over the next several days and we are watching for the potential for strong thunderstorms over the weekend.

Here's an updated look at the rainfall forecast over the next 5 days as forecast by the National Weather Service...

The southeast will see a lot of rain with flooding a possibility along the Gulf coast. We may see up to 2 inches between now and the weekend. Look for only light rain showers by late this afternoon and evening. The rain should pick up for Thursday. We may see a break in the rain late Thursday through early Friday, but another round of rain is possible during the day Friday.

And, there is more rain expected over the weekend that may come in the form of thunderstorms. Friday afternoon, low pressure will be developing over the southeast that should spread stormy weather over much of that region into the weekend. The timing on that system arriving here is still a little uncertain, but look for showers and thunderstorms to become likely late Saturday into early Sunday. Some of the latest weather data this morning suggests some of those storms may become severe. The Storm Prediction Center has outlined all of the Carolinas for the threat for severe weather Saturday...

Stay tuned to News 14 Carolina for the latest on the threat for storms with our Weather on the Ones updates available every 10 minutes. You can also stay connected with updates here on our weather blog plus now you can follow updates from our team of meteorologists on Facebook and Twitter:

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

After a pleasant and mild start to the week, this week will end on a wet note. Quite a bit of rain is expected over the southeast over the next several days....

The above graphic is a forecast from the National Weather Service for the amount of rainfall expected across the country over the next 5 days. The heaviest rains are forecast over the Gulf coast states where over 5 inches of rain is possible in some spots. While we do not expect that much here in the Carolinas, our area could see up to a couple of inches over the next 5 days.

Our rain chances will begin late Wednesday when a few sprinkles of rain or light rain showers will be possible. Look for the rain to pick up for Thursday and Friday. We may get a break in the rain late Friday into Saturday before a front pushes through the state over the weekend. The timing on that front is still uncertain at the moment but it could bring another round of rain including thunderstorms late Saturday or early Sunday.

Stay tuned to News 14 Carolina and Weather on the Ones for the latest forecasts through the week...

Thursday, March 12, 2009

By now, you probably have heard about the upcoming weekend forecast. It's a wet one. Light rain should begin Friday. Off and on rain will likely continue through the weekend and into early next week. Based on the latest weather data this morning, weekend rain totals should add up to about an inch.

While we don't always look forward to a wet weekend, the rainy forecast is not all bad news...

This week's drought monitor shows "abnormally dry" conditions over much of central and eastern North Carolina with drought conditions in western parts of the state. This weekend's rains will help to alleviate some of this year's rainfall deficit.

As of this morning, here's a look at rainfall deficits compared to normal year to date rainfall at select sites in the state --

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Ever since last weekend, we have enjoyed much warmer than normal temperatures for early March including a record breaking 84 on Monday. The warm weather is about to come to a halt as much colder air moves into the Carolinas. The rest of the week, the weekend, and early next week may all feature colder than normal weather.

The latest 6-10 day and 8-14 temperature outlook from the Climate Prediction Center both forecast colder than normal temperatures in our region of the country.

A front moving in North Carolina late today will bring the first cool down for Thursday when afternoon temperatures will only reach the 50s. Rain will become likely by Friday. The clouds and rain on Friday will lock central North Carolina into a wedge of cool air and afternoon temperatures around the Triangle may struggle to reach 40. Most of Friday will be in the 30s with off and on rain. Light freezing rain may be possible Friday morning for some areas around the Triad, mostly north and west of the Triangle.

What a change from the start of the week to the end of the week! Cloudy, cool, and wet weather will likely last through the weekend. Some of the latest computer model forecasts this morning suggest that the wet weather may continue through the first half of next week.

Stay tuned to News 14 Carolina for Weather on the Ones for the latest forecast information.

Friday, March 06, 2009

This week started with snow in the Carolinas and highs in the 30s. By the end of this weekend, we may see high temperatures near 80 degrees. March can bring wild swings in our weather. Those wild swings in weather can also include severe weather. That is why the first week of March has been designated as Severe Weather Awareness Week for the state. Severe weather can happen any time of of the year, but it is more common during the upcoming spring months.

When you think of of severe weather, you may think of tornadoes in the Great Plains of the United States. The central U.S. from South Dakota to northern Texas is an area that is often referred to as Tornado Alley. That region of the country experiences more tornadoes than any place on Earth. While severe weather does happen more often there, we are not immune from storms in North Carolina. In fact, the National Weather Service Office in Raleigh this week quoted a recent study that shows North Carolina leads the nation in the number of killer night time tornadoes!

There are several examples of such tragic events in our recent history. Folks that have lived around Raleigh for a while may remember November 28, 1988 when an F4 tornado touched down in north Raleigh and travelled almost to the Virgina border killing 4 people and injuring over 150. More recent examples of night time tornadoes came just last year on November 15.

Tornado damage in Kenly on November 15, 2008. National Weather Service photo.

Tornado damage near Elm City in Wilson County on November 15, 2008. National Weather Service photo.

Several tornadoes touched down in the eastern Carolinas during the very early morning hours of November 15, 2008. One of those tornadoes near Elm City in Wilson County killed one person and injured four.

With these facts, we should all ask ourselves -- are we prepared if severe weather were to strike at night? It does happen in North Carolina and our history tells us it can be deadly.

The one device that could prevent some deaths from night time tornadoes is a NOAA Weather Radio. These radios will automatically sound an alarm if a severe weather warning is issued in your area. The most recent weather radio models featuring S.A.M.E. technology allow you to program your radio to only alert you for the county where you live. A NOAA Weather Radio is just as important to have in your home as a smoke detector. Every home in North Carolina should have one! Does yours?

If you do not have a weather radio, now is a great time to purchase one. They are available at most electronic stores. You should be able to pick up one for under $50. Be sure to pick a radio with the S.A.M.E. technology and one that has backup battery power in case the electricity goes out.

If you do already have a weather radio, now would be a great time to make sure yours has fresh batteries. Just like smoke detectors, experts recommend you change the battery twice a year. Time change weekends, such as this weekend, is a great time to change your batteries!

Read more about the severe weather events I mentioned in this blog plus find out more about NOAA Weather Radio through these links --

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

but check out the visible satellite from the lunch hour on Wednesday. Leftover snow is still easily spotted from New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia right down into North Carolina. As highs climb over the next few days the snow will quickly melt away.

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Wanna see snow from space? Check out this visible satellite image from Sunday afternoon. If you look at Western Tennessee you're not seeing clouds, but nearly 7-10" of fresh snow. Memphis collected enough snow to shut down I-40 for a long period of time on Saturday. It will be interesting to see a visible image Monday afternoon for the Carolinas.

Check out the pictures of snow in Atlanta Josh posted in the blog post below this one.... when the snow starts to fall in your neighborhood, send us your weather reports and winter weather pictures. E-mail weather@news14.com. Be sure to include your city or community when e-mailing.

Some updated thoughts on the winter weather coming up for North Carolina....

- A cold rain is expected across the Triangle and Sandhills this morning. At times, that rain could mix with sleet especially north and west of Raleigh.

- A wintry mix will be possible this afternoon with a burst of all snow possible by late afternoon in the Triangle.

- Ground temperatures are warm, but a quick burst of moderate to heavy snowfall could still accumulate in the late afternoon and evening. Snowfall with a lighter intensity would not be able to cool the ground and may not be able to accumulate.

- All snow is expected late tonight into early Monday morning. The snow should taper off around daybreak.

- Based on the latest data, I still expect snow accumulations around 2-4" in the Raleigh area. On the north and west side of the Triangle, the Durham and Chapel Hill area may see more with accumualations around 3-6" with the higher accumuations expected the closer you get to Greensboro. An area around the Triad (Greensboro-Winston-Salem) to Charlotte could see 4-7" with a narrow band of even higher snowfall (7"+) still possible. Keep in mind if the storm track were to shift east, higher accumulations could shift to the east into the Triangle.

- Areas south and east of the Triangle may still see some accumulation into early Monday morning as well. Wilson to Goldsboro to Fayetteville could have 1-2". Southeast of Wilson, Goldsboro, and Fayetteville toward the coast may see a few snow showers or flurries but little to no accumulation is expected.

News 14 Carolina has the winter weather covered with weather updates every 10 minutes around the clock. Let us know what's happening in your part of North Carolina. Send weather conditions from your neighborhood and weather pictures to weather@news14.com. You can also stay connected with our weather team through the comment section on this blog or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. Our Twitter and Facebook links can be found on the right side of the blog.